The district unit of Kudumbashree Mission has launched a programme to bring 800 acres under organic farming to obtain certificate for the produce which will include vegetables, banana and paddy. An official of the Kudumbashree Mission said 16 clusters had already been identified for the purpose under the 14 blocks in the district.
The organic farming programme is being undertaken in collaboration with the Manarkad Social Service Society, which will provide training to the farmers as well as help in obtaining organic certification for the produce. The official said Kudumbashree’s group of artistes under Rangashree was organising street plays across the district to spread awareness about organic farming.
Formation of JLGs
The district has also forged ahead in terms of formation of women’s joint liability groups (JLGs) for cultivation of land under the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana, a component of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission through which women’s visibility and engagement in agriculture is increased. Under the programme, Kudumashree has 2,831 acres under cultivation. There are a total of 7,050 JLGs for the programme.
Micro enterprises
Meanwhile, Ernakulam leads in the number of micro enterprises among districts in the State in various categories under the Kudumbashree mission with a total of 3,183 units. There are 1,038 individual micro enterprises and 2,145 group enterprises in the district. There are also 23 Santwanam units, eight data entry units, 179 cafes and eateries as well as 10 Nutrimix units.
Thrissur district comes close behind Ernakulam district with a total of 3,028 micro enterprises. Of them, 1,643 are individual enterprises and 1,385 are group enterprises. There are 37 Santwanam units, five data entry units, 124 cafes and 20 Nutrimix units. There are 31,261 micro enterprises across Kerala with 19,484 group enterprises and 11,777 individual enterprises.
The micro enterprises in the district under the Kudumbashree groups vary from water purifying and distribution units to cafes and eateries, tailoring units, house-keeping and management at the Cochin Shipyard, soap-making units, maintenance of pay-and-use toilets, flex and cloth printing unit, floor mat making and groups that take up civil construction work.
